Behind the Mask

Revealing the Trauma of War

Brain injuries caused by blast events change soldiers in ways many can’t articulate. Some use art therapy, creating painted masks to express how they feel.

By Caroline AlexanderPhotographs and Audio by Lynn Johnson

Marine Cpl. Chris McNair (Ret.)

Afghanistan 2011-12

“I had this muzzle on with all these wounds and I couldn’t tell anybody about them.”

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(0:33)

“I thought this was a joke,” recalled Staff Sgt. Perry Hopman, who served as a flight medic in Iraq. “I wanted no part of it because, number one, I’m a man, and I don’t like holding a dainty little paintbrush. Number two, I’m not an artist. And number three, I’m not in kindergarten. Well, I was ignorant, and I was wrong, because it’s great. I think this is what started me kind of opening up and talking about stuff and actually trying to get better.”

Hopman is one of many service members guided by art therapist Melissa Walker at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), which is part of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland. Images painted on their masks symbolize themes such as death, physical pain, and patriotism.

Army Staff Sgt. Perry Hopman

Iraq 2006-08

“I think he was one of the first patients I’d ever had to ask me to let him die.”

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(0:59)

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Aaron Tam (Ret.)

Iraq 2004-05, 2007-08

Photographed with his wife, Angela, and their two children

“Detonation happened and I was right there in the blast seat. I got blown up.”

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Air Force Staff Sgt.

Robert “Bo” Wester (Ret.)

Iraq 2007, 2008-09, Afghanistan 2010

“If a mistake is made at that point, then death is almost certain.”

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Army Maj. Jeff Hall (Ret.)

Iraq 2003-04, 2005

Photographed with his wife, Sheri (at left), and their two daughters

“I told him, I’m not cleaning your brains off the bedroom wall.”

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Army First Sgt. David Griego

Iraq 2008, Afghanistan 2012

Photographed with his wife, Tracy

“Sometimes you find yourself saying, I wish ... I would have lost a body part, so people will see—so they’ll get it.”

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(0:32)

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Marine Cpl. Chris McNair (Ret.)

Afghanistan 2011-12

Photographed with his mother, Sandra

“He’ll live the rest of his life with the nightmares, the images, and that’s what the military can’t fix.”